Bhardawaj performs the hat-trick on way to eight-wicket haul against Barton | 'Great bowling to take a hat-trick, which was something special to see' – Dan King

AKSHAY Bharadwaj performed the hat-trick on his way to an eight-wicket haul as Cullompton condemned relegated Barton to a six wicket defeat.

Barton were 49 for one when Bharadwaj came on to bowl in the tenth over – and 91 all out when he had finished with them.

Bharadwaj’s figures of eight for 24 included a hat-trick spread across two overs. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe (caught), Matt Lipton (bowled) went one after the other. Greg Shelton (caught) completed the set at the start of Bharadwaj’s next over.

Kamunhukamwe (33) and Adam Parker (22) made the only scores of note for Barton.

It was the first eight-wicket haul in the A Division since Seaton’s Ben Morgan (8-12) bowled out Tavistock in 2021.

Since 10-over bowling restrictions arrived in the DCL in 2012, eight-wicket hauls at any level have been rare. Only four have been taken in the A Division. The others were Torquay’s Matt Beasant (8-18 v Brixham, 2018) and Plympton’s Imran Ali Pasha (8-9 v Hatherleigh, 2016).

Chasing low totals can be tricky at times, which must have crossed the mind of Cully skipper Brendon Parr when his side were 26 for three. Nick Watkin (3-38) did the damage for Barton.

Deshan Dias (34no) and man of the moment Bhardawaj (34) put on 58 to end the game as a contest.

Dan King, the Cullompton vice-captain, said Cricketfield Road has not been a happy hunting ground for the team… until now!

“It was great to get a win at Barton after years of trying,” said King.

“Akshay bowled exceptionally and was backed up well in the field. Great bowling to take a hat-trick, which was something special to see.

“Despite a few hiccups, 91 was never going to challenge us. Akshay and Deshan knocked off the runs comfortably.”

Not for the first time this season, Barton were spun to defeat by a leggie. Steve Lewis, the Barton captain, largely drew a veil over that shortcoming.

“It was a good spell of leg-spin … again,” said Lewis.

“We didn't score enough runs, but battled with the ball. 

“Nick Watkin showed enough fight again, but no one else really backed it up.”